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Farewell from Robyn – MCS Head of School

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

Dear MCS Families,

As the 2016-2017 year draws to a close I feel such gratitude for all the members of our school community. It is a true pleasure to be working with such amazing co-workers. I am delighted by our children/students and love the opportunities to spend time with them. In addition I feel such strong support from our families.

This year I have been away from school more often than in previous years, mostly because of my mother’s health challenges. She is now 91 years old and had had a form of Parkinsons for many years as well as some heart problems. It is increasingly difficult for her to walk and that is very hard for her. She insists on continuing to live in her home and we are so fortunate that the New Zealand government offers free services that include having “helpers” come into her home each morning and evening and also to do her housework and gardening but as my sister and I live in the States and my brother in Australia she does not have any of her children nearby to provide direct support. My sister and I have been going home regularly to assist her. She is most fortunate to have several friends and a few relatives who are also supportive. Anyway because of my more frequent absences during those times many of my responsibilities have fallen on Ramira and Britney. It is difficult to adequately express how much I appreciate everything they do. Of course I am also so appreciative of all the other staff members for their support as well.

Once again we have had an amazing group of parents serving on the PSA this year and because of them and many other parents who have served on committees and in many capacities so many exciting events have happened. I would like to give special thanks to Annie Guerrero who has served on the PSA since she arrived at our school with her son Owen 11 years ago and in the leadership position for many years. She has been unwavering in her enthusiasm and support of our school and it would be impossible to calculate how many hours she has devoted. Owen will be graduating from 6th grade this year and therefore he and his parents Annie and Ryan will be moving on. They will surely be missed and I will be forever grateful to them for all their contributions.

Some exciting news to report is that this year the following staff members have graduated from university:

  • Diana Haro Reynolds with her Masters Degree in Montessori Education
  • Annie (Cassandra) Hayes with her Bachelors Degree in Early Education
  • Kim Brown with her Bachelors Degree in Business and Accounting with an emphasis in HR
  • Amanda Haws with her Masters Degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology

We are also delighted to advise that Jennifer Carrino and Fernanda Roesevear will be completing their Toddler Montessori certifications during the Summer. Lindsay will be completing her certification once she returns from maternity leave. In addition, we currently have Candace Leikam and Annie Hayes working on their Early Childhood Montessori Certification through CGMS and Anita Ermish will begin her studies for her Masters Degree in Montessori Education at Westminster College this summer. Also,  Austin Bull, Sage Wegner and Carley Hines will begin their Montessori Toddler training this summer. We are thrilled to have so many of our non-certified staff committing to becoming certified Montessori teachers. This is a special gift to their students.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to those of our staff who will be leaving this year- Evi Bybee, Kenzee Kubilius, Kate Savage, Whitney Franck, Corey Day. Liz Spor, Christine Burningham, Aly Delanty and Amanda Haws. Each of these teachers has played a huge role in the lives of all of our children. Through their observations they have developed a meticulous knowledge of each child, have found their beauty and talents and encouraged them in their growth and also been able to recognize their challenges and been able to guide and support each of them in these areas. They have always been truly committed and have offered so much of themselves to their students and co-workers. What each teacher brings to their students is unique and wonderful and their many co-workers, students and their families will really miss all of them but as the Head of School I fully support them in following their dreams and taking a new direction in their lives. I have hope that sometime in the future some of them may return.

For those families who are leaving us I thank you for the privilege of being able to partner with you in guiding your children in their growth and development. I wish you and your children all the best as you embark upon new adventures. For those who are staying I am delighted and look forward to many more special experiences together.

Have a wonderful, full-filled and safe summer.

Warmly,

Robyn

How can failure be a gift?

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

When I started teaching 20 years ago, childhood was altogether a different experience.  Raising children looked different than it does now and, since I’m now in the midst of raising my own three children, I believe this more than ever before.  The single most important thing I think we may be missing with this generation of parenting is the realization that growth comes from failure!  Scary concept, right?  But honestly, when everything goes according to plan, there are no hiccups in the way, or any process is simple, precise and easy we learn very different lessons than when we have to struggle and stretch.  I think it would be fair to say that your own failures (or struggles, at the very least) provided clear opportunities for learning and growth. I recently watched a really wonderful TedTalk called “The power of believing that you can improve” by Carol Dweck in which she uses the word “yet” with great meaning and power.  (Watch here.)

Believe it or not, when our kids become afraid of failure, they become disinterested in learning.  Life gets scary. Autonomy and the ability to bounce back helps kids feel confident and connected.

What happens if we tell our kids they are the best (at anything!) and they discover that they are not (at some things)? The feeling of failure, of letting us down, of believing they are less than they really are is just the kind of feeling that keeps them from trying again and from experiencing new things.  The realization that they still have space to grow, on the other hand, and the belief that they are surrounded by loving people who will give them space for that to happen? POWERFUL! Our generation of children are learning that there is a lot of immediate gratification in the world.  But let’s be real, parents – life includes a lot of waiting, trying again, picking ourselves up off the ground, and re-thinking how things “should” be.

How do we really step back and let our kiddos stretch?  It’s hard, right?  And honestly…it can be totally inconvenient.  Not only is childhood different but so is adulthood.  If I count the number of hours I really get to spend with my own children in a week, it seems far less than ideal.  We are a busy family.  Life is beautiful and lots of fun, but it is REALLY BUSY! So how can I adapt my “helicopter parenting” approach (which is in some ways for my own convenience) to one that gives my kids the best chance at being resilient?

  • Praise wisely: Point out the effort, the process and the strategies that your child used whether they succeed or fail at something.  Outcomes are typically less than we imagined and so the process is an important one to celebrate, think about and understand!
  • Plan ahead: Ask questions to get your kiddo thinking about outcomes without giving up the best answers.  The more we tell them the answers, the more children lack the opportunity to think of them themselves.  And believe it or not, some day they WILL have to make decisions without you. The small ones they are making now, under our care, are the safe ones to practice on.
  • Step back: As much as you want to step in and tell them “I already tried that, it didn’t work” or “But what if..” DON’T DO IT. Little failures are great opportunities to learn.  And, when we are there rooting for them despite their failures not only do they learn to try differently, but they learn that we are there no matter what. (How comforting.) The other beautiful thing about stepping back is that when they do step in at the face of real danger (I’m talking serious circumstances here) and we step in, they’ll know they face real danger.
  • Listen: Guess what?  Our job as parents is not to be problem solvers.  I know, weird right? I have a hard time with this one too. But really, sometimes children just need someone to listen.  They are people and, like us, can oftentimes talk themselves into the best answers.

What I’m presenting here is not an easy feat.  There is no expectation for any of us to get it right every time.  As a matter of fact, the same concepts apply to parenting…we will make mistakes.  And we will learn from them.  And when we are better next time, our kids will learn that being better is the most important part.  I have never apologized more to anyone on this earth than I have to my oldest son. And I believe that my humility and admittance of my failures goes a long way in teaching him that humaning is a process….er, at least I hope it does! If nothing else, he has seen me mess up and get back on that horse!  I will not give up and he knows that.

In her book The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey talks about autonomy supportive parenting. Clear expectations and clear consequences make people feel safe.  From traffic laws to moral obligation, this is true on every front. I can’t tell you enough how lovely a concept this is!

ThroughPlay – U of U Study

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

Whether you participated in the ThroughPlay study earlier this year or not, MCS Parents have been invited to a re-presentation taking place on May 2nd. This presentation has been dramatically overhauled and, we think, improved! There is a greater use of the creative arts to complement our narrative about the importance of play for children and adults, including more film of parents and children in nature, better-designed slides, and more music.

Ideas for a Fun, Active, and Educational Spring Break

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog, Community News.

During Spring Break, you may be thinking of some fun outings or play-dates to enjoy some quality time together exploring what the beautiful Wasatch Front has to offer this budding time of year.

Check out hands-on experiences by going to places like Color Me Mine, www.colormemine.com, Harmon’s Cooking School, www.harmonsgrocery.com/cooking-school/, and crafting classes at Michael’s stores.

Also, look at utah.com/hiking for some great hikes and information about certain trails.

Other great ideas are attending local pet stores to view and interact with the variety of animals, create a giving project for a friend, neighbor, or family member, check out the local swimming pool or ice-skating rink, and story times at various libraries.

One of my favorites is taking a drive to Utah’s own Gossner Cheese Factory in Logan, Ut and then hitting the various other factories in the area: Pepperidge Farm, Creamies, PJ Zone, etc.

The following are some other fun family options of great places to check out if you have never visited:

Memory Grove Park
375 North Canyon Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
www.slcparks.com

West Jordan Conservation Park
8275 South 1300 West
West Jordan, UT 84088

Great Salt Lake Nature Center
1700 West Glovers Lane (925 South)
Farmington, UT 84025
www.greatsaltlakenaturecenter.org

Gilgal Sculpture Garden
749 East 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
www.gilgalgarden.org

Clark Planetarium
110 South 400 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
www.clarkplanetarium.org

Discovery Gateway: The Children’s Museum of Utah
444 West 100 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
www.childmuseum.org

Hill Aeropspace Museum
7961 Wardleigh Road
Hill Airforce Base, 84056
www.hill.af.mil/library/museum/index.asp

Natural History Museum of Utah
301 Wakara Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
www.nhmu.utah.edu

The Leonardo
209 East 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
www.theleonardo.org

Treehouse Children’s Museum
347 22nd Street
Ogden, UT 84401
www.treehousemuseum.org

Tracy Aviary
589 East 1300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
www.tracyaviary.org

Utah’s Hogle Zoo
2600 East Sunnyside Avenue
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
www.hoglezoo.org

Enjoy the week!

Join the MCS PSA!

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

MCS-Parent School Alliance T.E.A.M.
Together Everyone Achieves More!

Before I became involved in the PSA, I noticed for years that most of the burden fell on one or two people, and I thought that was just too much; especially when you are juggling kids, work and life. So when I was asked by the MCS Administration to get involved, I suggested a restructuring of the PSA to become a “Team” representing all the age groups but with an emphasis on the Toddler and Early Childhood groups since they are our meat and potatoes.  This PSA Team concept is now completing its second year with, I believe, great success on many levels.  First, the obvious, the 6 reps share the roles, no one person is working alone; second, we have more of a presence on campus as a team; and third, we actually enjoy each other and collectively want to generate excitement and enthusiasm within our community. Who doesn’t want to be involved in that?

Since my son is graduating this year from MCS, this is my last year with the MCS PSA and I want to encourage those interested to consider joining the PSA Team next school year.  We have such a unique, wonderful and supportive community of children, parents, teachers and staff that it makes it so much easier to be a part of the team.

If you are interested please email us at psa@mcsslc.com.

Thank you for your support,

Annie Guerrero
Uinta Parent

Spring Camp Registration 2017

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog.

Spring Camp Registration
Journey Under the Sea
April 10th, 2016 – April 14th, 2017

8:00 am – 5:30 pm

Registration will be done on a first come, first serve basis. Spaces are limited and fill quickly! Registration will end on Friday, March 31st unless unless the available spaces fill.

 

 

Registration Form must returned with payment in order to secure your student’s space.

All School Assembly – Utah Okinawa Kenjinkai Cultural Experience

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

Our Second Annual All-school Assembly took place Wednesday morning at MCS! All of our staff and students, from toddlers to elementary, gathered for an incredible presentation. The Utah Okinawa Kenjinkai group shared a beautiful performance about their cultural Japanese heritage. They introduced us to Okinawan traditional music, dances, folk craft, and martial arts while briefly discussing the Japanese history associated in a fun and enlightening way.

A lot of our young toddler friends enjoyed singing and dancing throughout the assembly while our older friends were impressed by the costumes and instruments. In the traditional Okinawan dance, the Eisa, there is a closing song to end the performance. We were invited to join the dancers and dance together waving our hands to the beat of the music and drums. It was a great experience for all of our students to enjoy this cultural opportunity as a whole community.

Check our last year’s experience here.

By Paola Ramirez

The Gift of Adult Learning

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Blog.

Today I was graced with the most lovely opportunity to observe a teacher intern in one of our classrooms.  MCS has the ongoing opportunity to support and host adult interns seeking Montessori certification at all levels.  The process of a teacher receiving Montessori training is as well developed a system as the Montessori method itself.  Following an intense period of study of Montessori theory, history, methodology, didactic training and classroom management, an intern spends 1-2 years engaged in a teaching practicum (internship).  During this initial experience as a teacher, with a wealth of newfound understanding and insight to the child and its environment, the teacher goes through the magical process of implementation under the direction of a master teacher.

Maria Montessori said “The teacher, when she begins to work in our schools, must have a kind of faith that the child will reveal himself through the work. She must free herself from all preconceived ideas concerning the levels at which the children may be.” 

The process of having absolute faith in our little ones to develop in their own time, in their own way, and to their most authentic selves takes absolute faith.  We let go of our own egos to allow for the child’s great awakening. I will never forget my own hours of study…learning precisely how each material is to be presented, memorizing the sequence and curriculum, identifying sensitive periods in the children, writing lesson plans only to be erased and re-written, and discovering the meaning behind “preparation of the environment”.  Those hours paled in comparison to the spiritual awakening and rebirth of self that I am honored to experience on a daily basis at MCS.

And so today I applaud all those who have themselves engaged in this transformation process.  Hosting interns means that MCS is a place for adult learning, teacher collaboration and exposure to ongoing research. Additional kudos to those master teachers who commit themselves to the process of guiding these new interns; an ongoing process of renewal and one of the beautiful experiences that brings MCS together as community.

Winter Sports: A Group Experience

Written by Joshi Haskell on . Posted in Announcements, Blog, Community News, Get Involved (P.S.A), Parent Education.

The intent behind our Winter Sports Program is that these lessons and experiences let our students have a real-life group driven experience where there is crossover between programs; where there are great opportunities for the students to practice the life skills they have been learning and practicing in such a safe environment here at MCS. It is an opportunity to let our students explore one of Utah’s greatest beauties- the mountains and our incredible snow.

Please keep in mind that these lessons are peer-oriented and group options are bound to contain a number of skill sets being presented, developed, and learned amongst the students. Some students are at the peak of that skill set and some are at the base of that skill set. However, those students are all within the same level. It can become very frustrating when friends ski/ board together on the weekends, but are grouped apart for the lessons. However, we ask that you place your trust in the ski program to group our students as they see fit and ask that you remind your children to do the same.

We really want to enforce that as these lessons continue on, it really is a collaboration as a group to learn and practice. Snowbird has hand-picked instructors specifically for our school, and instructors go through intense training on how to meet the needs of each student in the group.

A successful day may not be or mean that your student was the fastest, moved up a group, etc. A successful day should be evaluated on whether or not your student was safe, having fun, in an environment where they can learn without frustration, were able to communicate their feelings appropriately, follow instructions, and engage appropriately with their chaperones, instructors, and peers. Ultimately, when a student is feeling comfortable and safe, there will be more detailed, controlled progress. One of the reasons we appreciate Snowbirds Ski Program is that they take an approach to individualized instruction that is similar to our approach here at MCS.  However, their ability to separate every single skill level is limited by a number of factors.